Packing crate



Sept 8, 1931- J. J. HENzE PACKING CRATE Filed June 15, 1928 1o thefloor.

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 am.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE JOSEPH J'. HENZE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,kASSIG-NOR T0 A. 'BACKUS JR. & SONS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATIONOF MICHIGAN PACKING CRATE Y Application led .Tune 15, 1928. ASerial No.285,515.

The present invention pertains to a novel crate for shipping andgenerally transporting bread. The crates are subject to ex.

tremely rough usage, in being tossed from the trucks to express cars orto ferries. They are usually piled to the ceiling and the manner ofpiling consists of tossing the crates of the higher tiers into place,and, it is not unusual for the higher of the tiers to crash to Thismanner o-f handling and rough usage necessitates a light crate and yetof extreme durability. The present invention discloses a light weightcrate constructed of panels. The panels are constructed of slats whichare interlaced by wire, providing sufficient reinforcing to withstandthe ordinary rough usage.

The crates are constructed of panels which are of standard sizes andthereby subject to rapid assembly with a comparatively small amount oflabor. This assembly feature reduces the freight charges and storingcharges prior to the box being used. It provides that the panels may becompactly piled and stored, occupying a mere fraction of the space whichthey occupy when assembled.

The bread within the crates which is often still warm, in beingsubjected to this rough usage is quite commonly crushed, and the valuematerially decreased. The present in- Y vention provides a floatingpartition which absorbs considerable of the shock and which supports theweight of the upper loaves when the crate is placed upon its end. Inthis manner the loaves are preserved in their normal state and are notcrushed by the weight of the upper loaves.

The manner in which I attain these objects is fully disclosed by way ofexample in the following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the crate with thecover partly broken away and with the corner gussets removed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective detail of an upper corner of the crate showingthe attachment of the gusset;

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of a lower corner of the crate.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of one ofthe y.

partition supporting members, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail showing manner of interlacing thereinforcing wires.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 is employed to designate the end panels,2 indicates the side'panels, 8 the bottom panel and 4 the cover which isprovided with suitable hinge members (notshown). The panels areconstructed of frame members 5 to which are lattached slats 6. The slatsare attached by the staples which are driven through the slats and intothe frame members. The reinforcing wire 8 is retained by the staples 7for attaching the slats together.

VThe exterior reinforcingl wire 9 is attached to the frame members andextended trans# versely of the slats and is retained by the material.

The end panels 1 are provided with drill holes 11 which correspond withthe drill holes 12 of the bottom panel and similarly the side panels 2have the drill holes 13 corresponding with the drill holes 14 of thebottom panel.

Inthe'a'ssembly the end panels are placed upon the bottom panel andbolts 15 passed through the drill holes 11 and 12 and the vend panel issecured to the bottom by means of these bolts 15. Similarly the sidepanel is placed upon the bottom and bolts 16 are .passed through thedrill holes 13 and 14, se-

force the upper corners of the panels. The lower edges of the panels arelikewise reinforced and further attached to the bottom panel by thegussets 18 which, in addition to reinforcing the corners, serveV as abuffer to the cornersas Well. Y

Attached. to ,the interior of' the sidespanels 2 are the brackets 19,suitable to receive a link 20 Which is received at its other end by abracket 21- secured to a partition 22: This connection permanentlyattachesthe partition Within the crate and permits a. lQlting motion.The loaves of bread 23 are placed' The loaves are not, usually upontheir ends. of uniform size and the floating partition enables.- theloavestobeisnugly packed regardless of various sizes.; l

The float-ing partitiomin addition to permitting loaves which are-notuni-form in size to be packed, prevents themv from. bouncing aroundVduring shipment. It: further.' relieves .the loaves when the cratei'splaced on end.

In this manner bread may be shipped without damage in light cratesofextreme durability.

The method; of assembling the crates in the manner above describedprovides that the crates mayfbe shippedfto'the customer, or kept in a.store-room in. knock; down form. The assembly bythefcustomer-is acomparatively simple` undertaking by reason of the crate beingconstructed of standard size panels which are previously provided' With.drilled holes. The drilledholesv are provided in positions` whichcorrespond with the drilled holes of the abutting-panel, the panelsbeing secured together by bolts being placed in the drilled holes. Thismethod of' assembly provides a light crate of extreme durability, ofconsiderably more substantial character and adapted for more rapidVassembly than crates-formed by nailing the members of the cratetogether.

Although a specific embodiment ofmy i'nvention has been disclosed itWil-l be understood that such; alterations inthe details of constructionmayf be made as fall Within the vscope ofthe appended claims.

That I claim is-:-

1f. A crate comprising bottom, side-and end panels secured together,brackets secured to the inner surfaces of certain of said panels,linkscarried'by said brackets, and a partition having brackets adaptedtoreceive the opposi-te ends of said links.

2: In a crate having a hinged cover, a bottom panel, side and end panelsattached to said'y bot-tomI panel and secured to eachother at theirupper corners, brackets secured to the inner surfaces of said sidepanels, links carried' by. said brackets, a partition, and bracketsmounted uponA said partition andreceiving the opposite ends of saidlinks. y

InA testimony Whereoflf aiiX my'si'gnature.

JQSEPH" HENZE.

